Activase

Alteplase, sold under the brand name Activase in the United States and Actilyse elsewhere, is a biosynthetic form of human tissue-type plasminogen activator, commonly abbreviated t-PA. It is a thrombolytic, or clot-dissolving, medication given intravenously or intraarterially to treat acute ischemic stroke, acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction, pulmonary embolism accompanied by low blood pressure, and blocked central venous catheters. It works by binding to fibrin within a blood clot and activating clot-bound plasminogen, converting it into the enzyme plasmin, which then cleaves the cross-links between polymerized fibrin molecules so the clot breaks down. Alteplase received its first United States regulatory approval in November 1987 for treatment of myocardial infarction, and its use was later extended to ischemic stroke and pulmonary embolism. It is included on the World Health Organization's Model List of Essential Medicines, added in 2019, reflecting its role as a standard emergency treatment for clot-related vascular events where restoring blood flow quickly can limit permanent tissue damage.